Dispenser



June 12, 1923. 1,458,282

L. J. FARBANKS DISPENSER Filed Feb. 1o. 1920 Patented JunejvZ, 1923..

LUKE J. FAIRBANK, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

. xmsrnnsnn.

Application fue.; February `1o', 1920. serial ivo. 351,729.

To all whom t may concern.' v Be it known that I, LUKE J. 'FAIRBANKS, acitizen ofthe United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Dispensers, of which the following -is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensers, and moreparticularly to that class of dispensers which are capable ofexpeditiously ldispensing a semi-liquid mass', such as peanut butter,jams, apple butter and kindred mobile or plastic substances, at the willof the operator. I

An important' object of this invention is to provide a simplyconstructed, readily accessible, comparatively small, inexpensive,compact, durable and highly efficient dispenser, which'is attractiveAand ornamental in appearance and efficient inoperati'on.

An object of the invention istoprovide for preventing a hardening or:settling of the heavy parts of .-any semi-liquid mass within thecontainer. chamber of the dispenser, to which end I provide means forre-mixing the mass, thuskeeping the mass at all times in its originalconsistency. The invention. further consists in the particularcombination, inter-relation, construction, association and ,relativearrangement of the several parts, elements and features of thedispenser, as illustrated in the drawing, described -in thisspecification and finally pointed out in the claims.

Other objects and advantages will appear during the course of thefollowing description:

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of the dispenser; Y

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View of the device shown inFigure 1, taken `on the line 2-2, and looking in the direction of theappended arrows;

Figure 3 is a detail .plan view of certain elements of the dispenser,taken on the line :c3-m3, and looking in the direction of the appendedarrows;

Fi ure 4 is a fragmentary, transverse. sectiona view of the dispensershowing a modi-v fied dispenser outlet; v

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse vlew showing a further modificationof the d1s- 'pensing outlet shown in Figuref;

` AFigure 6 is a fragmentary view of a d1spenser containerV and coverand means for locking the last named elements together;

Figure 7 isa perspective view partly sectioned of one'of thebladeelements shown in Figure 3; and,

Figure 8 is a detail 'plan' view partly sectioned .of a handlemeanSQandtaken on the line :csm8, Figure 2.

Corresponding parts inall the"figuresare designated by the samereference characters. Referrin particularly to the drawing, thedispenserincludes as one embodiment of the invention acontainer B havinga dispensing outlet C, a combined plunger and` scraper D, an agitator ormixer E, both of which are arranged within the container;

handle means F and means G forv rigidly holding the device to'so'mefixed object.

More `particularly the A container B includes-a cover 1 which isprovided`with downwardly directed edges 2' for gripping the rim of thecontainer. A portion of the ledge 2 of the-cover is angularly slotted asat 3 to engage -an outwardly projecting lug 4 mounted on the container.Thus a slight turn of the cover 1 acts either to engage the slot 3 withthe lug 4, or to disengage same, whereby the container may be locked tothe cover orueasily removed therefrom, as desired. g Y

Concentrically disposed within the base'of the containerais an aperture5 around the edges of which is a downwardly projecting flange or collar6.

The dispensing outlet C shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a mouth-pieceof cylindrical tubing 7, having one end thickened as at 8 to form aflange 9. l r In order to secure the mouth-piece to the container 'B,theopposite end 10 of the cylindrical tubing 7 comprising same, isexteriorly threaded for a portion of its length, as at 11, to engage aninteriorly threaded surface 12 of the fiange 6. 4 i. n.

A cut-off valve a comprising a disc 13 is pivotally fastened tot andheld imposition over the thickenedend ofthe tubing 7 by 'means of ascrew 14; T o prevent the disc when covering the opening of themouthures 1 and 2.

The disc 13 has a depending extension or arm 18, which arm is for thepurpose of allowingthe operator a purchase on same suliicient tofacilitate easily reciprocating or closing the disc 13 over the end ofthe mouth-piece 7, when desired. l

A modification of the dispensing outlet C is shown in Figure 4 and issimilar in all.

details to the outlet C of Figures 1 and 2, just described, with thevexception that a mouth-piece 19 is in the form of a hollow frustum of acone or an inverted funnel. It should be particularly observed thatwhile the inside surface of the hollow cone 19 is regular throughout,the outside peripheral surface near, the shorter diameters is thickenedto form a parallel side or cylindrical surface 20. This surface isprovided with threads 21, which threads engage the threads \12 of theflange- 6.

A further modification of the dispensing outlet C is shownA in Figure 5,in which 'a mouth-piece`22 is in allrespects similar to the mouth-piece19.0f Figure 4, except that the lip 23 of same -is arcuated. Thecut-ofi' valve a includes a disc 24, the surface of which is arcuated tocorrespond to the lip 23. Pivotally depending as at 25 from the liange 6and at corresponding opposite sides thereof, -are arms 26, which armsare fastened to the edge portion of the disc 24. To operate the valve a,a handle 27 is. mounted on the outside surface .of the disc. To limitthe reciprocating movement of the disc in one direction a check 28 isfastened to the mouthpiece 22 as at 29; this check has an arm 30vextending over the lip 23 and is capable of engaging the edge of thedisc.

Within the container B is the circular 'plunger or scraper D having anopening or aperture 31 at its median portion and around which isdisposed 'al collar 32 integrally formed with the pl/unger. A sleeveshaft 33 has aportion of the peripheral" surface of v one end as at 34,flushly surrounded by the an aperture 36in thecover 1.

collar 32 and joined each to the other by means 35 passing through thecollar 32and embedded in the shaft 33, which shaft 33 in turn passesupwardly for a distance through mentioned that the aperture 36 is inco-axial alignment with the aperture 5 in the base of the container B.

(3o-axiallyI disposed within the sleeve Ishaft`33 is an extended centralshaft 37` which carries amixer or agitator E located within thecontainerB and below the plunger D.

It might be.

Referring to Fig/ure 7, each blade 38 is given a longitudiiial spiralset and pitched as shown by the transverse. vertical section 41. Whilethe depth of the blade as shown at 42 is constant throughout its length,the surface 43, which in practice is the top surface of the blade,progressively varie-s in width from hub to tip, so that in contour itresembles a one-half crescent.

The handle F, provided with a ydetent 44 is slidably mounted upon theshaft 37. The detent includes two arms 45 and 46 integrally formed andat angles to each other. One of the arms 45 is pivotally mounted onl thehandle hub 47 by means of a bracket 48, while the other arm 46 passesthrough an aperture in the hub 47 and normally engages, when desired,any one of a plurality of internal recesses 49 longitudinally arrangedon and located in the shaft 37. ,A spring 50 isso mounted between thearm 45 and the handle F as to exert an outward pressure against the arm45, thus ensuring that the arm 46 will not slip out of any one of therecesses 49 until such time as the operator exerts a downward preureagainst the arm greater than the outward erted by the s ring.

The means for'securing the dispenser A to some object, includes abracket 51 provided near one end of same with fingers 52, which fingersin.v turn connect with the peripheral surface ofthe container B. Theopposite end of the bracket is provided with adjustable clamping jaws 'bwhich include fixed and movable jaws 53 and 54 respectively. The fixedjaw 53 is placed under the object, and the movable jaw 54 which slidesco-axially'upon ,the arm'51 4of the bracket G, is pressed downwardly onthe opposite surface of the object and the lock bolts 55 i and 56turned. 4

The operation, uses an(l'a. LlVantages of this dispenser are as follows:

`,To use a concrete example, suppose that the dispenser A is mountedupon a counter in a grocery store, and it, is desired that the containerB be used for peanut butter.

At the present time peanut butter is seldom J handled in grocery storesowing to the dificulty of successfully dishing same from -any form ofcontainer. In my invention, the cover 1 1s first. removed from the con-'tainer B, and, the agitator E and plunger D dispensing outlet 5. 0f thecontainer B, the

masses y Naturally the grocer' would be desirous of ascertaining 'thecubic contents of the conv imately,

tainer B, andif possible the exact weight of the peanut butter to bedispensed through the dispenser'outlet C.

A scale 57 showing the cubic contents of the container B is markedlongitudinally upon the sleeveshaft 33. There is likewise provided ascale 58 which designates thenumber of pounds that. might approximatelybe within the container B. I say approxbecause different plasticsubstances would. vary in weight. In practice, the sleeve shaft 33 ismade of wood, and the interior surface is lined.

with metal cribbing toredu'ce any wear that the shaft v37 might incur.

Now, if a customer were to desiresay three pounds of peanut butter, the'grocer would plat-e a small bucket beneath lthe dispensing outlet C andwould press downwardly with one hand upon the sleeve shaft 33 and move.the disc or closure means 13 past the mouth`of the dispensing outlet C.The peanut butter would now flow outwardly and into the bucket due tothe pressure exerted by the plunger D.. The grocer would at all times'watch the scale 58 and.

when the' plunger had moved downwardly fa sufficient distance, sayl towhere it registered' approximately three pounds on the scale 58, hewould immediately close the disc 13 over the dispenser outlet C. Thedisc13 being thin wouldA act as a. cutting.

element and^ sever the contents discharged from the outlet C.

Figures 4 and-5 show a modified form of e the dispensing outlet C whichhas been As previously found more satisfactory than the 'dispensiiigoutlet illustrated inv Figure 1 and 2. described it is made in thefrustum of a `hollow cone because plastic substances adhere less rea ilyto a sloping wallthan they do to a straight wall. f Furthermre, itismuch easier to succefully clean-a dispensing outlet of the ltype shownin Figures 4 and 5 than that shown in Figures l and 2.

Let us suppose that the peanut butter within the container B becomeshardened; the oil-will r'ise to the surface and thehard substance willdrop 'to the bottom. Naturally it would be impossible now to remove anyof the peanut butter through the dispensing` outlet C, regardless .ofany pressure that might be exerted by the operator upon the plunger D.To overcome this condition the agitator E lis so disposed within thecontainer-B that it may be reciprocated orrotated in. accordance withmovement ofthe shaft 37. By a.

plunger. both saidplunger and the plunger being combined 'rotation ofthe shaftv 37. aided bythe handle F and reciprocation, the peanut buttermay be thoroughand returned to its original at which time it will bepossible to again successfully dispense same. Furthermore, the blades 38are given a spiral setvand a negativepitch in ordei-that the ly re-mixedconsistency,

plastic substances within the container B may be moved to acommon centerwhen the agitator E is rotated.

l'.JIt is obvious that'many changes and variations and modifications may.be made in departure from the particular description and showing of theaccompanying drawing i nadapting the invention to varying conditionsvand requirements of use and s ervice, without departing from the truespirit of the invention.

' Having thus disclosed lmy invention, 'I claim and desire to secure by"Letters Patent t l. In a dispensing device, the combination with acontainer provided with a discharge opening, a central shaft, anagitator carried said plunger being within the container and capable ofreciprocal motion within same.

2. In a dispenser, a container provided with a discharge-opening, meansfor closing the opening and for movement across the opening to sever thecontents to be discharged therefrom,v a sleeve shaft, a come binedscraper and plunger mounted upon said shaft, a shaft co-axially disposedWithin the sleeve shaft,.an agitator carried at one endvof the sleeveshaft, and below the agitator being within the container', adapted toreciprocate with said shaft 1ndependent of any movement of the agitatorshaft.

3. In a dispenser, a container provided with a discharge opening, amouth-piece surrounding the discharge opening, means for closing themouth-piece and for move` reciprocating said shaft, a central shaft co'-axially disposed within thesleeve shaft, and an agitator carried at oneYend of the sleeve shaft and below Jthe plunger.

4. Ina dispensing device, a container having a -discharge opening,.acentral shaft,

an agitator carried shaft surrounding said central shaft, a combinedplunger and scraper mounted on the sleeve shaft and above the agitatonboth by the shaft,fa-sleeve Said agitator and said plunger being.contained within the container, and means joining said central shaftexternally of said container, whereby the agitator may be reciprocatedand rotated with said shaft'.

5. In a dispensing device, a container having a discharge opening,- acentral shaft, an agitator carried y the shaft, a sleeve shaftsurrounding said central shaft, a combined plunger and scraper mountedon the sleeve shaft and above the agitator, both said agitator and saidplunger being contained within the container, and means joining saidcentral shaft externally of said container, whereby the agitatorr maylbe reciprocated and rotated with'said shaft`;'said means comprising a'handle rotatably journaled on said central. shaft, la detent on saidhandle in engagement with an internal recess iii said shaft, wherebymovement of the handle-,will rotate or reciprocate said shaft and theagitator member.

y6. In a dispensingdevice, a container having a discharge'opening, acentral shaft,

an agitator carried by the shaft, a sleeve shaft surrounding saidcentral shaft, a combined plunger and scrapermounted on. the

sleeve shaft and above the iagitator, both said agitator and saidplunger being contained within the container, and means joining saidcentral shaft externally of said container, whereby the agitator may bereciprocated and rotated with said shaft; said agitator comprising aplurality of radiating curved blades.

j7. In a dispensing device, a container having a discharge opening, acentral shaft, an 'agitator carried by the shaft, a sleeve shaftsurrounding said central shaft, a combined. plunger andscraper mountedon the sleeve shaft and above the agitator, both said agitator and saidplunger being` contained within the container, and means joining saidcentral shaft externally of said container, whereby the agitator may bereciprocated and rotated with said shaft; said agitator comprising aplurality of radiating curved blades, eachI of which is downgiven alongitudinal spiral set. p g

8. In a dispensing device, the combina3 tion with .a container having adischarge opening at its lower end, a mouth-piece removably surroundingthe discharge opening, a cutting elementarranged to reciprocate acrosssaid mouth-piece, aV shaft, agitators carried by said shaft within theVcontainer adapted to reciprocate and rotate with said shaft; saidagitatorcomprsing a plurality of radiatin curved blades, each of whichis downwardly inclined and given a longitudinal spiral set, whereby anyplastic substance within the container may tainer, and means fordispensing any content within the container through the dis-1' chargeopening in predetermined amounts; means likewise being provided fornormally maintaining said discharge opening closed.

11. In a dispensing' device, a container open at one end, and formedwithv a discharge opening in the base thereof, a reciprocal plunger andagitator within said container, and means for dispensin any contentwithin the container` through t e discharge opening-in predeterminedlamounts.

12. In a dispensing device, the combination with a container, providedwith a discharge, opening, a central shaft, an agitator` til) carried bysaid shaft, a plunger, both said L agitator and plunger being within thecontainer and capable of independent reciprocal motion within the same;there being means for moving said plunger, the said agitatorv beingbeneath the plunger.

13. In -a dispensing device, the combination with a' container, providedwith a discharge opening, of an agitator'and a plunger within thecontainer and capable' of independent reciprocal motion within the same;said agitator being beneaththe plunger. r In testimony whereofI "havesigned my naine to this specification inthe presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

1 J." CALVIN BROWN,

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